Prelim Bits 05-06-2019

Jan Shikshan Sansthan

• Jan Shikshan Sansthans (JSSs) is an initiative of Ministry of Human Resources and Development.
• Under the initiative institutions are established to provide vocational training to non-literate, neo-literate, as well as school drop outs by identifying skills as would have a market in the region of their establishment.
• JSS offers training equivalent to courses designed by the Directorate of Adult education, National Institute of Open Schooling and Director General Employment & Training.

Economic Census

• Economic Census is the complete insight into geographical spread/clusters of economic activities, ownership pattern, persons engaged, etc. of all economic establishments in the country.
• Economic Census will cover all establishments including household enterprises, engaged in production or distribution of goods/services (other than for the sole purpose of own consumption) in non-farm agricultural and non-agricultural sector will be counted.
• The information collected during Economic Census are useful for socio-economic developmental planning at state and district levels.
• Economic Census is being conducted by Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).

Hoolock Gibbon

• The hoolock gibbons are native to eastern Bangladesh, Northeast India and Southwest China.
• White rings around their eyes and mouths give their faces a mask-like appearance.
• Hoolock Gibbon are categorized vulnerable, as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
• Estimates of the eastern hoolock gibbon population in India are at 170 most found in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
• They are mainly concentrated in the Mishmi Hills, and are now commonly known as Mishmi hills gibbons.
• The animal is protected in Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary located in Lower Dibang Valley district.

TN Health System Reform Program

• The Government of India, Government of Tamil Nadu and the World Bank has signed an Agreement for the Tamil Nadu Health System Reform Program.
• The Program aims to improve the quality of health care, reduce the burden of Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs), and fill equity gaps in reproductive and child health services in the State of Tamil Nadu.
• Tamil Nadu ranks third among all Indian States in the NITI Aayog Health Index which is reflected in vastly improved health outcomes.
• The State’s maternal mortality rate has declined from 90 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2005 to 62 deaths in 2015-16 while infant mortality has declined from 30 deaths per 1000 live births to 20 in the same period.
• The Tamil Nadu Health System Reform Program will support the State Government to:

1. Achieve national accreditation for primary, secondary, and tertiary-level health facilities in the public sector;
2. Strengthen physicians, nurses and paramedics through continuous medical education;
3. Strengthen the feedback loop between citizens and the state by making quality and other data accessible to the public.

RODRA Website

• Manpower Planning (MP) Directorate has launched a website called Retired Officers Digital Records Archive (RODRA, rodra.gov.in)  to overcome lack of digitization and non-availability of latest address and contact details of veterans.
• Manpower Planning (MP) Directorate is responsible for custody and maintenance of approximately 1.2 Lakh service records of serving and retired officers of the Indian Army.
• Some of the facilities extended to veterans through website are updating of records, Registration and tracking of documents/ pension related grievances.

Global Economic Prospects (GEP) Report

• Recently World Bank has released the Global Economic Prospects (GEP) Report.
• The other reports released by World Bank are as follows

1. Ease of Doing Business
2. World Development Report
3. Remittance Report
4. Ease of Living Index
5. India Development Update
6. Universal Health Coverage Index
7. The Service Trade Restriction Index.

Source: The Hindu, PIB, Indian Express